Regulator for water-heating systems.



B. HUMPHREY. REGULATOR FOR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED 001219, 1909.

968,664. Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

witnesses m: .voxms FEYERS co., WASHINGTON. n. c.

BERT HUMPHREY, OE CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

REGULATOR FOR WATER-HEATING SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

Application filed October 19, 1909. Serial No. 523,424..

T 0 all whom it may concern: Be it known that I BERT HUMPHREY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and State of WVest Virginia, have invented a new and useful Regulator for lVater-Heating Systems, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to that class of regulators for hot water heating systems in which excessive pressure is prevented or relieved by an expansion tank having a mercury sealed inlet, through which the expanding water is forced, and the object of the invention is to provide in a regulator of this kind means whereby the water may be returned to the system without going through the seal, when the pressure is relieved.

The invention is in the nature of an improvement on the apparatus shown in my Patent No. 893,503, dated July 14, 1908, and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, a vertical sectional view of the apparatus is shown.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 5 is a cylindrical vessel having an inlet 6, at the bottom which is connected to the system. To the top of the vessel is connected an expansion chamber 7 having an over-flow connection 8, and containing a float-controlled valve 9 for supplying fresh water to the system, as in my former patent heretofore referred to.

The connection between the vessel 5 and the expansion chamber 7 is made by a plug 10 screwing into nipples on said vessel and chamber, and having threaded openings, into one of which is screwed a tube 11, and into the other a tube 12. The tube 11 opens at one end into the expansion chamber, and extends downwardly and opens into the vessel 5, said tube, within the vessel, being bent into U-shape to form an inlet leg 13 and an outlet leg- 14:. The bend in the tube is filled with a sufiicient quantity of mercury M to form a seal between the vessel 5 and the expansion chamber 7. The inlet leg of the tube has its inlet end located a considerable distance above the bottom of the vessel. The tube 12 also opens at one end into the vessel 5 and at the other end into the expansion chamber 7. Said tube terminates in a U-shaped bend in the vessel, and has its outlet end formed with a seat for a ball valve 15 inclosed in a cage 16. The outlet end of the tube is near the top of the vessel and its inlet end extends into the expansion chamber, and has a bend in the direction of, and terminating close to the bottom of said chamber.

There is no communication between the vessel 5 and the chamber 7, except by the way of the tubes 11 and 12.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The system is filled from the valve 9, the water flowing from the chamber 7 by the way of the tube 12 into the vessel 5, and from the latter to the system at 6, the valve 15 opening to let the water escape from the tube 12 into the vessel 5. The water. is shut off when its level rises sufiiciently to close the valve 9 through its float. WVhen the temperature of the water is raised sufiiciently to start the expansion, the water forces the column of mercury upwardly into the discharge leg 14, and escapes through said column into the chamber 7. It will be obvious that the pressure in the system will be directly proportionate to the resistance offered by the column of mercury to the flow from the vessel 5 into the expansion chamber 7 and by increasing the quantity of mercury, the pressure in the system will be increased, and by decreasing the quantity of mercury, the pressure will be diminished.

WVhen the pressure drops, the water flows from the chamber 7 back to the vessel 5 by the way of the tube 12, the valve 15 opening. The vacuum formed in the vessel 5 when the water starts back to the system will lift the valve 15 off its seat, and draw the water from the chamber 7. When the system is full the valve 9 closes and shuts off the supply of water, and the valve 15 then closes, after which the apparatus is ready for the next expansion. The valve 15 is held closed when the pressure is on in the vessel 5, and when the pressure therein is released, the said valve is free to open to let the water pass from the chamber 7 as already described.

The water flows back into the vessel 5 with little or no resistance, whereas, if it were compelled to pass through the mercury tube, it would have to overcome the resistance offered by the weight of the column of mercury.

What is claimed is:

1. A regulator for water heating systems comprising a vessel, an expansion chamber, a mercury sealed tube establishing c0mmunication between the vessel and the chamher, a return-flow tube leading from the expansion chamber into the vessel, the outlet end of the last-mentioned tube terminating in a U-shaped bend, and a check valve seating on the outlet end of the return flow tube.

2. A regulator for water heating systems, comprising a vessel in communication with the system, an expansion chamber, a mercury sealed tube establishing communication between the vessel and the chamber, a return flow tube leading from the chamber to the vessel, said return flow tube terminating in an upward bend Within the vessel, a cage over said end of the tube, and a valve inclosed in the cage, and seating on the upturned end of the return flow tube.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN P. HENDERSON, XVALTER A. PERRY. 

